Awkwardness & Chivalry

Today I had a hearing at the courthouse on a rather large case.  It was a hearing on a motion to dismiss.  The case is actually three different cases revolving around a single incident and essentially the same parties.  There were six attorneys present for the hearing.  My client didn't really have a dog in this fight, which I why I was at the courthouse instead of the partner on the case.

 

So there are six attorneys.  I'm the youngest/least experienced by approximately 20 years.  I'm also the only female.  This doesn't bother me (except for when they tell mildly inappropriate stories and then feel the need to apologize for hurting my womanly sensibilities...but whatever). 

 

There is one problem...

 

You see, while chivalry in general might be dead (this is what I hear, at least), it is alive and kicking in Kansas.

 

No matter where we were going, the other attorneys always made sure to hold the door open for me and then everyone follows me.  This means that I got on the elevator first and then also needed to get off first (awkward, but doable).  it means that I went into the judges chambers first.  I went into the courtroom first.  I left the courtroom first as we left to sit down and workout some deadlines.  I'm always first.  Again, I don't mind the whole door holding thing...

 

What I mind is this--generally speaking, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!  I'm still learning the ropes around the courthouse and I'm trying to watch the other attorneys to figure out where to go, etc.  It is hard to follow their lead when I'M ALWAYS FIRST.  This lead to a lot of awkward moments where I walked into or out of a room and then just stood off to the side until someone else came out who I could follow...

 

Awkward.

An Open Letter to Delta Airlines

Dear Delta,

I hate you.

Hugs & Kisses & Fluffy Stuff,

Rachel

It's been almost a month since I've blogged anything...I suck.  Also, I've been busy (lame & true).  In exciting news, I moved a week and a half ago from a 1.5 bedroom apartment with an angry (Ian says serial killer) old neighbor who complained that I was being too loud even when I wasn't home into a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, beautiful town home! 

In sad news, my aunt passed away last week.  I don't feel that this is the appropriate place to discuss her, her life, or her death, but it is the appropriate venue for my rant re: Delta Airlines.

I spent most of last week at home.  Ian was moving back to finish school, so I went with him in his car to Iowa, and then purchased a plane ticket to get me back to Wichita on Sunday.  Itinerary:

Leave Iowa at 4:25 pm, land in Atlanta at 7:31

Leave Atlanta at 8:30, land in Wichita at 9:45.

So it's Sunday, I'm all prepared to leave, and I get a phone call from Delta.  Apparently my flight has been delayed and I am now set to arrive in Atlanta 8:24.  Ok, a six minute layover isn't great by anyone's standards, but I figure that since they are both Delta flights, the airline will work with me.

A couple of minutes later, I get a second phone call...I'm delayed for a second time and will be arriving in Atlanta at 8:59, 29 minutes after my scheduled departure.

And then five minutes later, all of a sudden I'm not going to be in Atlanta until 11:44.  Clearly this doesn't work for me.

I get online, find a new itinerary and even though I'm pissed, I just suck it up because really, what are you going to do about it, right?

Ok, so new itinerary:

Leave at 11:45, arrive in Minneapolis at 12:51

Leave Minneapolis at 2:20, arrive in Wichita at 4:12.

The next morning, I'm all ready for my flight again and I get another phone call.  My flight is delayed AGAIN!  Now I'm not going to arrive in Minneapolis until 2:33, 13 minutes after departure. 

So Ian and I go to the airport because I'm angry and I need to get home.  We walk up to the counter and the customer service rep tries to make a joke, sees that I'm pissed, and gets a little serious (but also condescending).  I tell him I want to get home as soon as possible, he says the earliest flight out of Minneapolis he can get me on is at 7:30.  I say that doesn't work for me and tell him to get me home earlier, on Delta or some other airline.  He clicks and clacks on his computer for a few minutes and says, "Sorry, but that's the earliest I can get you there.  It will have to do."  So I say, "Fine.  I don't care what time I get home, I want to fly on a different airline because clearly your airline has issues as every single flight has been delayed,"  (as we are talking, Delta is making an announcement that another flight has been overbooked and they are looking for people to volunteer to take a different flight).  He goes over to American Airlines and when he comes back I am miraculously on an earlier flight, arriving in Wichita at 4:30.

Many things about this experience pissed me off, but this "customer service" guy was the worst.  First, I shouldn't have to ask twice for you to check flights with other airlines.  Then he told me that one of the reasons the flight may be delayed is regularly scheduled maintenance.  WTF?  Finally, he talked to Ian and I like we were children and/or idiots. 

Moral of the story = I hate Delta. 

I promise to post about cupcakes soon.  :)

The People of Walmart

So I did some baking for Easter, but this post isn't about that.  This post is about my trip to Walmart to get my baking supplies.  I'm a procrastinator, so I waited until Sunday morning to go to the store to purchase my ingredients.  I wasn't really sure what stores would be open on a holiday (in the bible belt), so I opted for Walmart because I figured it was a sure bet. 

During my time at Walmart, I had multiple interactions with strangers:

(1)  Within 5 minutes of being in the store, as I was wandering around by the checkout lanes trying to find one that had cold Diet Pepsi, an older gentleman walked up to me and asked me to verify that he was purchase the correct light bulb.  He had his old light bulb and the new one he wanted to purchase...we agreed that there was a little indentation at the top and that appeared to be the only difference.

(2)  A few minutes later, a middle-aged man in an...interesting suit approached me.  He had a full gold "grill" and a very nice hat.  He was looking for a woman to help him re-tie his tie.  I was apparently the 18th to turn him down.

(3)  While looking for peanuts, and older gentleman started talking to me about where to find the powdered popcorn flavoring.  We agreed it should be near the popcorn.  He encouraged me to eat more popcorn and told me his favorite brands.

(4)  Finally, while getting some food coloring two black men approximately my age came into the aisle and asked if I happened to know where they could find Easter egg dye.  I said I did not but told them they could use food coloring, water, and vinegar and it would work the same.  They thanked me and turned to walk away and I heard one (who had his goatee in pigtails) say to the other, "See, white people are so smart."  Seriously. 

Anyway, the people at Walmart were very, very friendly on Easter. 

I'm an Idiot...or...I'm REALLY Dedicated to my Job!

Obviously this post isn't about cupcakes.  Sorry...

Anyway, on Tuesday I was sitting in my office, pouring over a plaintiff's medical records, doing some research into the various pain medications he has been prescribed over the two years since his accident.  I do some google searches for the uses of the medications, side effects, etc.  One is a muscle relaxer, one is an anti-inflammatory, and the third is a narcotic pain med.

Then I leave and go to hot yoga.

If you've never tried hot yoga, you should.  It's awesome.  But you should be careful.  Very, very careful. In this particular yoga class we do a lot of inversions (we go upside down).  Well, near the end of class I attempted to do something that is similar to a headstand.  I failed in a painful way.  Nothing big happened, I just put my legs up and my neck went slightly to the left.  And then there was pain.  Nothing bad at first...but gradually it grew.  And now I'm on the same pain meds as the plaintiff!  (minus the anti-inflammatory).

So, the moral of the story is I'm really dedicated and just wanted to know first hand what the side effects of these pain meds are.  So, thank you hot yoga.  

PS - if one more person tells me about the STUPID New York Times article from a month or so ago that details the dangers of yoga, I may scream!  Yes people, yoga, just like every other athletic activity, can lead to injuries.  If done improperly.  Like I did.  

Ok, rant over!